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| December 2007 | |
| Saturday 29th December | |
| New Year, New Hope? | |
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Hinckley United lifted themselves off the floor following boxing day drubbing, and
finish 2007 with a win. They travelled to fellow relegation side Solihull Moors and
came away from Damson Park with a 0-2 win. Owen Story had given Hinckley a 0-1 half
time lead and on loan Walsall youngster Harry Harris wrapped things up with a second
goal, just before full time. Click here for: Solihull Moors match details |
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| Wednesday 26th December | |
| Late Christmas Present for the Boro | |
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Christmas charity was on show at Liberty Way when Hinckley United gift wrapped
Nuneatin a 3-0 lead before half time, eventually losing the match 4-0. Defender
Jamie Hood was making his debut for Hinckley United and will definitely want to
forget this game. After only 4 minutes Hood failed to clear a bouncing ball, twice,
and Jordan Stepien gratefully stepped into give Boro the early lead. It was Hood
again, who failed to clear a similiar bouncing ball on 20 minutes and Craig
McIlwain saw his first shot well saved by Sean Bowles,
but he could do nothing about the follow up and Boro had a 2-0 lead. That became
3-0 on the half hour when Jamie Lenton had a rush of blood to the head and attempted
a late tackle on Bradley Pritchard as he went around him into the area, completely
missing the ball and gifting Boro a penalty. Tom Curtis despatched the spot kick
and Nuneatin had a 3-0 half time lead. At this point Hinckley were lucky to even
have 0. Michael Byron, who had been much missed during the first half, was brought
on as a second half sub and Hinckley did look a bit more solid, and even managed
to make a few goal chances in the second half. However, Darren Acton was able to
make the saves, the shots were off target and even the crossbar came into play, as
Hinckley were simply unable to convert any of their chances. The sucker punch came
from substitute Brian Quailey as 10 minutes from the end Hinckley were caught on
the break, again failed to defend a ball high into the area, and the Boro striker
headed past the advancing Bowles to give them a 4-0 win. Click here for: Nuneatin Borough match details |
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| Saturday 22nd December | |
| Harriers fly in Sultana Cup | |
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Hinckley United failed to hold their Conference National opponents, and despite
Kidderminster being reduced to 10 men during the second half, a last minute goal
from substitute Isyden Christe put the Harriers into the next round, winning 1-2.
Harriers had started much the better and Sean Bowles was brought into action early
on as a 7th minute free kick was fired goalwards and the keeper dived full length
to turn it around for a corner. After 20 minutes a mistake by defender Jamie Lenton
allowed possesion to Kidderminster and with Lenton being the last man, the ball was
squared to James Constable who simply sidefooted past the stranded keeper. Kidderminster
could have doubled the lead when Simon Russell collected a corner on the edge of
the area, and his shot was tipped onto the post by Bowles and everyone watched as
the ball rebounded and rolled across the goal area, before Bowles gratefully dropped
on the follow up shot. Hinckley equalised immediatley following this as they caught
Harriers on the break, still stunned they hadn't extended their lead, and Owen Story
received the ball to his feet on the edge of the area, lost his marker as he turned
and fired past Dean Coleman from 18 yards to level the scores. Hinckley, lifted by
the goal, finished the half the stronger but the teams went in level at half time.
Young loan striker Harry Harris, from the Walsall Youth team, made his debut early
in the second half as Alex Johnson was forced off injured. He made an impact on the
match as, 10 minutes after he was brought on, he nipped in front of Stuart Whitehead
waiting for a bouncing ball to drop and was clear on goal just outside the area.
Whitehead though clearly pulled him back and being the last defender gave the ref
no option but to show him a red card. With Harriers now down to 10 men, Hinckley
took the game to their higher league opponents, but a coupling of good saves and
bad finishing prevented Hinckley from capitalising. It was Kidderminster that won
the tie in the last minute, when Isyden Christie broke away from the Hinckley
defence on the left, raced into the penalty area and shot low across Bowles into
the bottom right of the net. There was no time for Hinckley to get back into the
game, and despite playing well and matching Kidderminster, it was the Conference
National side that went through to the next round. Click here for: Kidderminster Harriers match details |
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| Saturday 15th December | |
| Stalybridge frozen out | |
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For the second week running Hinckley have had their game postponed. Today the
Stalybridge game, already re-arranged from the end of the season, fell victim to
the recent frost. The pitch had been frozen over the last few days, and even
though parts of it had thawed with todays slightly warmer weather, there were
parts that were still frozen and with no sun out, would not thaw in time for the
game to kick off. This means Hinckley have not had a home game since the last week of November and have not played a competitive match since the start of December. It also means Colin Marrison's 3 match ban will now last until the end of the year, leaving him available next for the January 1st home game with Nuneatin Borough. The midweek games in January and February are now beginning to look very cluttered. |
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| Friday 14th December | |
| Hoodies not banned in the Marston Stadium | |
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Central defender Jamie Hood has tranfered from Gresley Rovers to Hinckley United,
for an undisclosed small fee. DT has been tracking the young defender for some time
and the two clubs eventually agreed on a fee, with some add ons, plus Hinckley
defender Leigh Platnauer moving the other way to the Moat Ground on non contract
basis. It ends a week of transfer activity at the Marstons as Sam Shilton moved to Kettering Town and Luke Edwards returned to Tamworth after they offered him a contract. Young right midfielder David Burtoft moved to Hinckley from Tamworth on a non contract basis, plus Luton Town Youth team striker Ryan Charles joins the club on a 'works experience' deal. With Colin Marrison banned for 3 games following his red card at Hyde, Luke Edwards back at Tamworth, and with Gez Murphy not fully fit following his pre season injury, that leaves Leon Kelly alone up front, so the young forward Charles will come in to gain experience and fill the gap up front. |
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| Thursday 6th December | |
| Sultana Pot 4th round draw | |
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The 4th round of the Banana Cup has seen Hinckley United drawn against Kidderminster
Harriers, at the Marston Stadium. The Harriers came to the Marston's in a pre season
friendly and won 0-1, though it was a game Gez Murphy would like to forget as his
injury that day meant he hasn't played since.The rounds will still be regionalised
North and South up until the semi finals and the full Northern draw is: Stafford Rangers v York City Histon v Halifax Town Cambridge United v Rushden & Diamonds Nuneaton Borough v Altrincham Hinckley United v Kidderminster Harriers Droylsden v Farsley Celtic Barrow v Northwich Victoria Burton Albion v Tamworth |
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| Monday 3rd December | |
| Hinckley bounceback in the League Cup | |
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Hinckley United picked themselves up from the battering at Hyde to record a victory
over Kettering Town at Rockingham Road to progress through to the 4th round of the
Sultana Shield. The Poppies had taken an early lead through Jean-Paul Marna, but
goal from Leon Jackson and Luke Edwards before half time gave Hinckley an interval
lead. Kettering forced the tie into extra time with Marna equalising in the second
half, but a further goal from Edwards and then Owen Story won the game for Hinckley
in the extra period. The draw for the 4th round sees the clubs from the Blue Square Premier entering into the competition, and will be made live on Sultana Sports 1, during the Kidderminster v Cambridge live match programme this Thursday 6th December. Click here for: Kettering Town match details |
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| Sunday 2nd December | |
| About turn for George | |
Much traveled striker Liam George will now not be joining Hinckley United. His
time here is even shorter than some of his many previous clubs. He has realised
that he will not be able to play or train on Mondays and Thursdays, due to his
University commitments. How he didn't realise this on Friday is anybody's guess,
but the outcome means he is not a Hinckley United player. |
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| Saturday 1st December | |
| The battle of Ewen Fields | |
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For the second season Hinckley United lost the battle of Ewen Fields, again finishing
with only 10 men on the pitch, and losing the match 5-2. This time it was Colin
Marrison who was sent off after only 20 minutes, for alleged comments made to the
referee. By that time though Hinckley were already 2 goals down due to a quickfire
double from Gareth Seddon and Matt Tipton after only 11 and 12 minutes respectively.
Seddon added a second just after half time before Chris Simms turned it into a battering
adding a fourth with 10 minutes left. Alex Johnson and Luke Edwards briefly lifted
Hinckley with two consolation goals, but the rout was completed by Simms in the final
minutes as he scored Hyde's fifth. Leaving many (well me anyway) to wonder just exactly
why games against Hyde are so bad tempered, as in the 3 times Hinckley have played
them there have been a total of 5 red cards? Click here for: Hyde United match details |
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